American Family Association: Senate Must Pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

Monday, February 25, 2019 @ 10:07 AM

TUPELO, Miss.—The U.S. Senate is expected to vote tonight on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to protect the lives of infants who survive an abortion. The American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) believes that life begins at conception and that every human life, both born and unborn, should be protected.

This legislation is a step toward that goal, AFA says. In regards to this legislation, every member of the Senate should agree that all babies who are born deserve protection. Therefore, AFA is urging Americans to contact their Senators and urge them to vote to ban the killing of infants who survive abortion.

“Senate Republican leadership must rally the entire Senate to unify in support of this bill,”said AFA President Tim Wildmon in an Action Alert to AFA’s nearly 1 million friends and supporters. “Passing the Act will not only protect the lives of babies who survive an abortion but will also let voters know which Democrats and Republicans refuse to protect innocent life.”

Wildmon added that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) should be commended for bringing the bill up for a vote, but it is troubling that he scheduled it for a Monday evening. Senators typically travel to Washington, D.C., on Mondays for the week, and they record their attendance that evening by what is known as a “bed check” vote. Bills considered after check-in are typically viewed as low-priority.

If the vote had been delayed until Thursday, Senate leadership, including Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), would have had the opportunity to build support for the bill. A Monday night vote weakens the ability of Senate leadership to leverage their majority position, AFA says.

“To protect babies born alive, Christians and constitutional conservatives should expect the same or greater legislative prowess that Sen. McConnell demonstrated when he fought to pass the Middle East security bill in January,” Wildmon added. “Sen. McConnell brought this bill up for a floor vote three times, even though it kept failing to break the 60-vote threshold to proceed to a vote. McConnell continued bringing it to the floor until it passed. He and other Senate leadership put the full weight of their majority position behind the bill until it passed. Surely newborn lives are worth just as much effort!”

The Born-Alive Protection Act passed the House in September 2015, but a Senate Republican majority allowed the bill to die. Senate Republican leadership, namely McConnell, is responsible, despite the overwhelming number of Republican senators who would have voted for the bill.

Another concerning fact, AFA reported, is that Republicans controlled the House, Senate and White House for two years following the 2016 election, yet they failed to make the bill a top priority. Instead, some Senate Republicans hid behind the 60-vote rule and refused to switch to a simple majority of 51 votes to pass this important legislation.

“This brings into question how committed these lawmakers are to the pro-life movement,” Wildmon said. “Nonetheless, it is important that all Senators go on the record regarding this important issue.”

View the media page for AFA here. For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or on Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.

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To interview a representative from the American Family Association, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Jeff Tolson, ext. 108.